Our team and mission

The Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration (D/HRE) is the main ESA entity in charge of supporting and coordinating efforts towards the current and the future endeavours of human spaceflight. The exploration activities are part of the strategic plans in securing a central role for Europe with respect to the global initiatives. The European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P) is integrating the ESA activities in this field to ensure a single exploration process. The strategy includes three destinations where humans will work with robots to gather new knowledge: Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the Moon, and Mars.

The "Spaceship EAC” initiative is investigating low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies for supporting the future cislunar space mission as well as surface activities on the Moon as part of the Exploration Preparation, Research and Technology (ExPeRT) team. This multidisciplinary, innovation-driven team composed of researchers, graduate and undergraduate students is based at the ESA European Astronaut Centre (EAC). The mission statement of "Spaceship EAC” is centred on three main pillars: enhance, enable and inspire. The founding idea behind this initiative is indeed to enhance the capabilities of EAC via exploiting the spaceflight experience of the centre to develop and validate new operational concepts and valuable technologies in support of future human exploration scenarios. A pragmatic and research-focused approach is adopted, and knowledge acquired is disseminated within ESA, partners and the relevant scientific community. Spaceship EAC is one node of the larger Spaceship Initiative team, with locations at ECSAT, France and Poland.

Within Spaceship EAC, we have a number of fields where we carry out different projects. These fields are:

• demonstrating disruptive technologies such as Virtual/Augmented Reality, collaborative robotics and their potential use cases for exploration;
• investigating novel concepts in the domain of Space Resources/In-Situ Resource Utilisation, to enable sustainable human exploration;
• using advanced manufacturing methodologies, such as additive manufacturing, for projects within the centre and for space exploration;
• developing new ideas around medical technologies, for example, using machine learning techniques to support long-term exploration;
• topics related to ‘off-world living’, e.g. human factors, design and concept illustration;
• Crew Health and Performance Technologies and Knowledge build-up.

Additionally, the Spaceship team is involved in supporting the development of our new LUNA facility at EAC. This facility will serve as a central hub for lunar exploration preparations at ESA and DLR. It features a 700 sqm lunar surface testbed, facilitating the development and validation of operational concepts, astronaut training, and technology demonstrations for Moon exploration. Additionally, the facility will showcase elements of an analogue Moon base, such as a habitat/laboratory module, and a regenerative energy system among others.

We are continually looking for innovative applicants with skills or interests in these areas to join the Spaceship EAC team. An outline of some of the projects that we have recently been progressing can be found at the ESA blog.

For more information on Spaceship EAC internships, please look at the Spaceship EAC blog ( Spaceship EAC – ESA – Exploration ).

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: http://www.esa.int

Field(s) of activity for the internship

You will support the innovation team that is Spaceship EAC, working to further develop and advance the projects of the team.

1. Background and Motivation

The Spaceship EAC team is always on the lookout for talented and motivated persons to join our projects and contribute to ESA’s exploration activities. The main areas in which the initiative is currently active are:

• energy production and storage;
• radiation shielding;
• In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU);
• VR/AR technologies for exploration;
• embedded systems and IoT;
• exercise hardware and countermeasure concepts;
• machine learning for exploration;
• robotics and human factors;
• conceptual illustration/design.

2. Objectives

As a member of the team, you will be asked to work on a project relevant to the topical areas aforementioned, advancing the project with the team and contributing to the overall Spaceship EAC environment.

3. Methodology and Tasks

The internship will integrate into the existing Spaceship EAC/LUNA team at ESA and work on a specific project in the domains listed. The Spaceship approach relies heavily on practical engineering and proof-of-concept demonstration, adopting an agile, skunkworks-type mindset to our work. The project will demand a high degree of flexibility and creativity, in line with the innovation focus of Spaceship work.

4. Expected Outcomes

You will help advance a specific Spaceship EAC project as well as become involved in the larger team. You will provide the technical outputs, prototypes and relevant documentation as a final deliverable to the team.

5. Relevance

Spaceships exist as part of the ExPeRT team and are integral in early-stage practical demonstration of low-TRL technologies and concepts. These projects are then commonly advanced to higher TRL activities via other mechanisms within ESA or externally (e.g. in cooperation with research teams). Additionally, Spaceship projects can directly support activities at their home centre, e.g. EAC at Cologne, enabling new capabilities at the centre. Spaceship activities align with the broad objectives of the E3P and are enabling elements for low-TRL activities within the programme.

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking

For more information, please refer to ESA Core Behavioural Competencies guidebook

Education

You must be a university student, preferably in your final or second-to-last year of university course at Master's level. In addition, you must be able to prove that you will be enrolled at your university for the entire duration of the internship.

Additional requirements

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another ESA Member State language is an asset.

During the interview, your motivation for applying to this role will be explored.

Knowledge and background in mechanical engineering, materials, computer science, life science, VR/AR development, industrial design or other relevant backgrounds are welcome.